Two religious IDF soldiers from the Kfir Brigade were told by police on Independence Day that they are barred from entering the sacred compound again pending a hearing at the Police Holy Places Division, Honenu reported. The reason: saluting on the Temple Mount.
The two soldiers, in uniform and wearing their Berets, stood at attention before the holiest sanctuary and gave a salute during a tour of the Temple Mount on Independence Day, May 2, 2017. Police who observed them told the soldiers they would be “taken care of” after the tour. Indeed, at the tour’s conclusion the soldiers were handed an order barring them from the site, with a verbal explanation from the cops that the reason is their salute.
Honenu attorney Haim Bleicher who represents the two soldiers said in a statement that “the freedom of Jews in the Jewish State and the Land of Israel includes every citizen’s right to go everywhere without limits. It is inconceivable that IDF soldiers who come on Independence Day to the holiest site would be barred for no reason.”
“The ban was issued without proper authority and we will take steps against it in the courts,” Bleicher noted.